Concorde Fikirini, 33 and his new wife Tatiana Fikirini, 20 of Taylor seal their new marriage with a kiss after a private Valentine's Day wedding at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit, Mich., Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. "He's a sweetheart. He's perfect," said Tatiana. / Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press

"He's my best friend. He brings order to the chaos," said Katy Fisher, 26, about her new husband Matthew Fisher, 36, a disabled war vet who fought in the Iraq War. The couple was married in a mass ceremony by Wayne County Clerk Cathy M. Garrett at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in Detroit, Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013. / Kathleen Galligan/Detroit Free Press

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Aaron Matthews stared into the teary eyes of his soon-to-be wife Nia Matthews as they stood face-to-face today, holding hands in a Wayne County courtroom at the Coleman A. Young Building in Detroit.

The couple — along with 12 others — vowed to love and cherish one another for the rest of their lives as they recited marriage vows during a group ceremony held in honor of Valentine’s Day.

“We’ve been together for three years, and we love each other deeply,” Nia Matthews, 38, of Detroit said shortly after the ceremony. “We picked today by chance.”

Aaron Matthews, 34, of Detroit confessed to being nervous, but in a good way.

“As we said our vows, I felt the change from being girlfriend and boyfriend to being husband and wife,” he said.

Couples of all ages — some dressed up and some in casual wear — packed the small courtroom for the special ceremony officiated by Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett.

“We are happy you decided to share your life-altering day, but good day with us,” Garrett said to the couples before the ceremony began. “Love is in the air today and everyday and the days that come after today.”

The men recited their vows first, followed by the women. The couples then exchanged rings and were pronounced husband and wife.

The courtroom was decorated with bouquets of helium-filled balloons proclaiming “Happy Valentine’s Day.” Garrett said special ceremonies also are held on Sweetest Day in October.

Marcelo Alvarado, 18, and his new bride Lourdes Lopez-Alvarado, 17, initially planned to get married on Feb. 24.

“We moved it up to Valentine’s Day because we thought what better day to do this,” Marcelo Alvarado said.

The couple was joined by their mothers, who said they were impressed by the solemn ceremony.

“I didn’t expect it to be so intimate,” said Kathy Alvarado, Marcelo Alvarado’s mom.

Said Lourdes Alcala-Lopez, Lourdes Lopez-Alvarado’s mom: “The ceremony enforced that marriage is a sacred act and an important act.”